Portable sport footwear lacing chair

ABSTRACT

A portable sport footwear lacing chair is described herein. Specifically a chair that can be easily expanded to a usable position, which contains a platform for placing a player&#39;s footwear thereon to allow for a person sitting in the chair to tie the player&#39;s footwear.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/721,721 filed Nov. 2, 2012 entitled “PortableSport Footwear Lacing Chair”, and is herein incorporated by reference inits entirety.

BACKGROUND

A portable sport footwear lacing chair is described herein.Specifically, a chair assembly is described, having a platform forsupporting a player's shoe or skate to facilitate another person to moreeasily tie the player's shoe or skate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one embodiment of a portable sportfootwear lacing chair.

FIG. 2 is top perspective view of one embodiment of a portable sportfootwear lacing chair

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of one embodiment of a portable sportfootwear lacing chair.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a portable sport footwear lacingchair.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view of a portable sport footwear lacingchair.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a portable sport footwear lacingchair.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of a portable sport footwear lacing chair ina non-use position.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. As bestillustrated in FIGS. 1-6, portable footwear lacing chair 10 includes achair assembly 20 and a platform 60. In particular, chair assembly 20comprises a seat portion 23 and a base structure 21 which is made up ofa plurality of leg members 26 configured to support an individual.

The plurality of leg members 26 form a base for chair assembly 20 andmay include several variations and orientations. In the disclosedembodiment, the plurality of leg members 26 include a pair of front legs27, a pair of rear legs 28 and two pair of respective side legs 29 and30. Each of the plurality of leg members 26 include a proximal endportion 32, a distal end portion 35, and a medial portion 37 extendingtherebetween. In this case, each of the pairs (i.e. pair of front legs27, pair of rear legs 28 and pair of respective side legs 29 and 30) areconnected to one another at the medial portion 37.

In the illustrated example embodiment, leg members 26 are configured ina cross-configuration, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6. As will berecognized, and is further described below, this configuration willaccommodate folding when portable sport footwear lacing chair 10 is in anon-use position. Leg members 26 are connected to each other via afastener 39, such as a conventional bolt, rivet, screw or wing nutassembly.

In the embodiment illustrated, leg members 26 are constructed fromelongate tubing having a generally round cross-section. One of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that leg members 26 may be formed fromtubing having other cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangle or square.Furthermore, the tubing may be formed of any suitable material, such as,but not limited to, aluminum, steel, fiberglass, plastic or otherapplicable materials. The various attachment components of the legmembers 26 may include any of the multitudes of means, which are wellknown in the art, such as, for example, rivets, nuts and bolts, pins,and the like.

To provide further stability for the disclosed embodiments, leg members26 are also coupled to a number of foot members 40. Foot members 40 areconnected to distal end portion 35 of the plurality of leg members 26 togive a larger contact surface between chair assembly 20 and the ground.Foot members 40 help to facilitate a stable surface for portable sportfootwear lacing chair 10 when in use. As further discussed below, distalend portion 35 is movably attached to foot members 40 in order toaccommodate the folding of chair assembly 20. As also discussed below,each of the pairs of legs (i.e. pair of front legs 27, pair of rear legs28 and pair of respective side legs 29 and 30) have their distal endportion 35 attached to different foot members 40.

A number of bracket assemblies 45 interconnect seat portion 23 withproximal end portions 32 of leg members 26. In at least one particularembodiment (as best illustrated in FIG. 2), a plurality of ringfasteners 50 secure the corners of seat portion 23 to bracket assembly45. To provide additional support, seat portion 23 may be reinforcedwith additional stiching in the areas surrounding ring fasteners 50.Similarly, bracket assembly 45 is also pivotably coupled to proximal endportion 32 of various leg member 26. Again, a movable coupling ofproximal end portion 32 with bracket assembly 45 is utilized in order toaccommodate movement between a use and non-use position of chairassembly 20. This movement will also provide a level of “give” when aperson sits on the portable sport footwear lacing chair 10. Although noone material is required, ring fasteners 50 are generally a plastic ormetal material. Ring fastener 50 must be strong enough to withstand theforces applied to seat portion 23 when a person sits on portable sportfootwear lacing chair 10.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, chair assembly 20 may also include anoptional holding strap 52. Holding strap 52 will help to facilitatecompact storage of portable sport footwear lacing chair 10 is in aretracted or stored configuration (see FIG. 7). Holding strap 52 mayalso be removably attached to allow for a variety of placement optionsto secure the portable sport footwear lacing chair 10 in the storedposition. In one example, a hook and loop material (commerciallyreferred to as Velcro®) may be used as a portion of holding strap 52 toaccommodate removal and reattachment as necessary.

As best shown in FIG. 2, seat portion 23 is generally square in shape.Again, seat portion 23 is attached to chair assembly 20 with ringfasteners 50. Seat portion 23 is preferrably made from a flexible waterresilient material and connected to leg members by bracket assembly 45.One example material comprises a fabric material. As appreciated bythose skilled in the art, seat portion 23 provides a place for a user tosit when portable sport footwear lacing chair 10 is in use. Seat portion23 is generally planar, and supported at each corner by the respectiveportions of base structure 21. Although a slightly concave surface mayalso be used to provide more comfort for the user.

In other contemplated embodiments, seat portion 23 may also compriseother shapes, such as circles, triangles and the like. Although, noparticular shape is required, seat portion 23 should provide a user witha surface to allow one to comfortably sit when the chair assembly 20 isin use.

Chair assembly 20 may optionally include a back portion 53 extendingupwardly from seat portion 23. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5,back portion 53 comprises two substantially vertical rear supports 43and 44 and a back rest 46. Rear supports 43 and 44 provide additionalstability to chair assembly 20. Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 rearsupports 43 and 44 are each coupled to their respective foot members 40on one terminal end and are integrally related to back rest 46. As bestshown in FIG. 5, rear supports 43 and 44 are each positioned in rearpockets 63 and 64 of back portion 53, which are located adjacent to thelateral edges thereof. As best shown in FIG. 1, rear supports 43 and 44are positioned through ring fasteners 50 to provide additional supportto chair assembly 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 and 6-7, showing several views of one exampleembodiment of platform 60. As illustrated, platform 60 is asubstantially rectangular planar member used to dispose a person's footthereon. Platform 60 may also be trapezoidal in shape. Platform 60 maybe made of several types of materials, such as plastic, rubber,neoprene, Teflon®, and other applicable materials.

In one example use of portable sport footwear lacing chair 10, it iscontemplated that a user will be seated on seat portion 23 and anotherperson will be positioned adjacent thereto in a manner that allows themto position their foot on platform 60. In a more specific example, theother person will be a player or participant in a sporting activity suchas soccer, basketball, hockey, skiing, volleyball, etc. who is in needof lacing or tying of their footwear. A non-limiting list of footwearcontemplated within the scope of the invention include; inline rollerskates, ice skates, tennis shoes, volleyball shoes, running shoes,football cleats, baseball cleats, soccer cleats, track spikes,basketball shoes, rugby cleats, field hockey shoes, wrestling shoes,skiing boots, snowboarding boots and roller skates.

In a related example, the player or participant is a child who mayrequire assistance in lacing and/or tying of footwear and the user is aparent, coach, sibling, manager, or some other assistant. To furtheraccommodate use, platform 60 may also include a non-slip surface on atleast the side used to rest a shoe or skate. In at least one relatedembodiment, a non-slip surface may include applicable materials, such asneoprene, rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, nitrile-butadiene rubber,polyurethanes and other materials that will provide at least a portionof platform 60 with a surface having a slip-resistant feature. Non-slipsurface may also include treading to enhance the slip-resistantcharacteristics.

When portable sport footwear lacing chair 10 is in use, platform 60slants downward and away from chair assembly 20. Platform 60 may alsoinclude a slot 63 which allows for skate blades, such as roller bladesand ice skate blades, to be placed through slot 63 thus providing astable surface for a player to rest there foot while having their skatetied. Platform 60 may alternatively have a single planar surface withouta slot portion.

As illustrated in the various figures, platform 60 is attached to afront portion of seat portion 23. Although many attachment mechanismsare possible, the present embodiment includes tether slots 67 forconnecting platform 60 to seat portion 23 via a tether 65. Tether 65 ispassed through at least one tether slot 67. In one example embodiment,one end of tether 65 is coupled to platform and is threaded through atleast two tether slots 67 as shown in FIGS. 2-3. In this example, tetheris a resilient fabric material that allows platform 60 to be removablyconnected to chair assembly 20. The tether may be securedly fastened bya pin snapped into apertures found along the interior sidewall of tetherslot 67 (not shown). The opposed terminal end of tether is coupled toseat portion 23 by stitching 55, although fastening means such asadhesive could also be used. Moreover, less permanent means ofsecurement may also attach tether to seat portion 23, such as snaps,zippers, Velcro®, clasps, buttons, ties or other securement means knownbuy one of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 7 which illustrate portable sport footwearlacing chair 10 in a use position (FIG. 1) and non-use position (FIG.7). Referring now to FIG. 7 which shows portable sport footwear lacingchair 10 in a non-use position where chair assembly 20 is collapsed in acompact or folded position. In the non-use configuration, each pair ofthe plurality of leg members 26 proximal end portions 32 and distal endportions 35 are positioned closer to one another. Moreover, seat portion23 is located substantially medial to the folded plurality of legmembers 26. Additionally, when in a non-use position, ring fasteners 50will slide along rear supports 43 and 44 to a position closer to thecollapsed back rest 46. It should also be appreciated that platform 60is also sized to be substantially similar in width and height to thechair assembly 20 in a folded position which provides for ease ofstowing portable sport footwear lacing chair 10 in a pouch or bag.

Also contemplated is a method for deploying portable sport footwearlacing chair 10 which can be readily configured from a folded positionto an unfolded position. When the portable sport footwear lacing chair10 is in use, chair assembly 20 is unfolded (FIGS. 1-6) and the legmembers are expanded to provide the user with a stable base to preventrocking and instability when a person sits on seat portion 23. Moreover,platform 60 is positioned in a manner to allow for a player in need oflacing or tying footwear to place their footwear thereon with anorientation the allows a person sitting on seat portion 23 toconveniently tie or lace the player's footwear. As previously discussedfootwear such as inline roller skates, ice skates, tennis shoes,volleyball shoes, running shoes, football cleats, baseball cleats,soccer cleats, track spikes, basketball shoes, rugby cleats, fieldhockey shoes, wrestling shoes, skiing boots, snowboarding boots, rollerskates and the like may be placed on platform 60 which allows for thelaces of the sporting footwear to be readily accessible to the usersitting on the seat portion 23. When the portable sport footwear lacingchair is no longer needed, the portable sport footwear lacing chair 10can be easily folded and placed in an equipment bag, such as a hockeybag or a gym bag, or stowed for later use.

While the invention has been described above in terms of specificembodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothese disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings of thisdisclosure many modifications and other embodiments of the inventionwill come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this inventionpertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both thisdisclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that the scopeof the invention should be determined by proper interpretation andconstruction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, asunderstood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure inthis specification and the attached drawings.

1. A portable sport footwear lacing chair comprising: a chair assemblypositionable between a use and non-use position wherein said chairassembly comprises a plurality of leg members and a non-rigid seatportion and a platform, connected to said chair assembly sized to besubstantially similar in width to chair assembly in a non-use position.2. A portable sport footwear lacing chair as in claim 1 furthercomprising a bracket assembly and a foot member, wherein said bracketassembly is connected to the proximal end portion of at least one ofsaid legs and is further connected to said seat portion and wherein saidfoot member is connected to the distal end portion of at least one ofsaid legs.
 3. A portable sport footwear lacing chair as in claim 1wherein said platform has a slot positioned parallel to a long axis ofsaid platform in a substantially medial position.
 4. A portable sportfootwear lacing chair as in claim 1 wherein said platform furthercomprises a non-slip surface.
 5. A portable sport footwear lacing chairas in claim 1 wherein said chair assembly further comprises a backportion.
 6. A portable sport footwear lacing chair as in claim 1 furthercomprising a pouch wherein said pouch being removably connected to saidchair assembly and being available to store the portable sport footwearlacing chair when in a non-use position.
 7. A portable sport footwearlacing chair as in claim 1 further comprising a holding strap whereinsaid holding strap is removably connected to at least one portion ofsaid seat assembly.
 8. A portable sport footwear lacing chair as inclaim 1 wherein said leg members are made from a material selected froma group consisting of aluminum, steel, fiberglass and plastic.
 9. Aportable sport footwear lacing chair as in claim 1 wherein said platformis made from a material selected from a group consisting of aluminum,steel, fiberglass, plastic, rubber, Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®)and silicone.
 10. A portable sport footwear lacing chair as in claim 1wherein said platform is removably connected to said seat assembly. 11.A portable sport footwear lacing chair as in claim 1 wherein saidplatform is connected to said seat assembly by a tether, with saidtether being coupled to said chair assembly and being connected to saidplatform.
 12. A portable sport footwear lacing chair as in claim 1wherein said seat assembly comprises a fabric material.
 13. A portablesport footwear lacing chair comprising: a collapsible chair assemblypositionable between a use and non-use position wherein said chairassembly comprises a plurality of leg members and a non-rigid seatportion and a platform, connected to said chair assembly sized todispose a person's footwear thereon, wherein said seat portion has adistance between at least two opposing edges when chair assembly is inthe use position which is a greater distance than a distance between thesame opposing edges when the chair assembly is in the non-use position,and wherein said seat assembly comprises a fabric material and whereinsaid platform is sized to be substantially similar in width to chairassembly in a non-use position.
 14. A portable sport footwear lacingchair as in claim 13 wherein said platform has a slot positionedparallel to a long axis of said platform in a substantially medialposition.
 15. A portable sport footwear lacing chair as in claim 13further comprising a pouch wherein said pouch being removably connectedto said chair assembly and being available to store the portable sportfootwear lacing chair when in a non-use position.
 16. A method of usinga portable sport footwear lacing chair comprising: configuring theportable sport footwear lacing chair from a non-use to a use positionsaid portable sport footwear lacing chair comprising a chair assemblyand a platform, connected to said chair assembly; wherein said chairassembly is selectively positionable between a use and non-use position;positioning said platform in an angled forward position relative to saidchair assembly; placing at least one piece of footwear on a portion ofsaid platform.
 17. A method of claim 16 wherein said platform has a slotpositioned parallel to a long axis of said platform in a substantiallymedial position and wherein said method further comprises the step ofplacing a portion of said footwear within said slot.
 18. A method ofclaim 17 wherein said footwear object is selected from a groupconsisting of inline roller skates, ice skates and roller skates. 19.The method of claim 16 wherein said footwear is selected from a groupconsisting of inline roller skates, ice skates, tennis shoes, volleyballshoes, running shoes, football cleats, baseball cleats, soccer cleats,track spikes, basketball shoes, rugby cleats, field hockey shoes,wrestling shoes, skiing boots, snowboarding boots and roller skates. 20.The method of claim 16 wherein said portable sport footwear lacing chairfurther comprises a pouch and wherein the method further comprises thesteps of configuring the portable sport footwear lacing chair to anon-use position and disposing said portable sport footwear lacing chairin said pouch.